Damascus and Aleppo. The Jewish communities, particularly those in distant parts of the Ottoman Empire, suffered severe afflictions from time to time, but they bore their heavy burdens with fortitude and resignation in order to maintain and to strengthen their foothold in the country. They trusted in the justice of the Central Government, and did not expect anything of Bonaparte’s invasion, or of any other invasion of the kind. ¹ _Sepher T’buoth Ha’arez_, by Joseph _ben_ Menachem Schwarz, _Jerusalem_, 5605. _Haham_ Meyuchas was at that time _Dayan_.¹ Another scholar of great authority was the Chief _Rabbi_ of _Jerusalem_, _H.H.R._ Israel Jacob Algazi, a great-grandson of _Haham_ Solomon Algazi the Elder (who was _Rabbi_ in Smyrna and in _Jerusalem_ in the seventeenth century, wrote on all subjects of _Rabbinic_ literature, and contributed much to the science of _Talmudic_ methodology). _Haham_ I. J. Algazi wrote some valuable books on homiletics and _Halachah_, which testify to his exceptional genius and astonishing industry. He was an excellent _Rabbi_, possessed of a keen intellect and a high sense of duty. His books _She’erith Jacob_ (Constantinople, 5511) and _Neoth Jacob_ (Smyrna, 5527) contain many chapters that bear testimony to his ardent desire for the development of the Jewish community in the Holy Land. ¹ Ecclesiastical Assessor. We read with special interest the books written by these two rabbis during that troublous period. These books are distinguished by the highest intellectual ability. There is nowhere a trace of weariness, languor or even indifference to be found; on the contrary, freshness, strength and unsatisfied intellectual impulse are throughout discernible. Living ideas pervade them all. It is impossible for any reader who is a _Talmudic_ student not to be touched by their depth and force of sentiment, and their exceptional vigour and eloquence, in spite of the usual clumsiness and complexity due to the old _Rabbinic_ language. It is indeed a relief to turn from the intrigues of the Pashas and the bloodshed of the expeditions to _Haham_ Jacob Israel Algazi, who writes in a reply to the Leghorn Jews: “We are here insignificant in numbers, modest in our requirements, and we pray God that we may become self-supporting. We have to be here for the sake of our ancestors and our children’s children. This question is not of appearances, but of realities; not of delights, but of duties; not of private option, but of divine authority.” Both these _Rabbis_ deal with Palestinian affairs in an elevating spirit and from an idealistic point of view. Whatsoever is in Palestine is holy and sublime, and all Jews are bound to support the _Yishub_.¹ This is the keynote of all their ideas. _Haham_ M. M. J. Meyuchas writes to Salonica: “We have in our community some artisans, too few for our nation――because they should be more numerous here――and too many for the charities